Ga Ma Thu- A traditional ritual of the Ha Nhi people

During the Ga Ma Thu ceremony, worshiping the village head, land god, and water god must include pigs; other offerings only include chickens. All worshiping ceremonies will be conducted in the order of inviting the god to receive offerings from the people, bringing chickens and pigs to slaughter, and offering to invite the god to enjoy the ceremony. When worshiping, women and girls are not allowed to participate.

Ga Ma Thu begins with the village gate closing ceremony. The gate closing is carried out simultaneously at the beginning and end of the village. From now on, people inside and outside are not allowed to enter or leave the village. Anyone who violates the regulations will be fined according to the regulations determined. The village gate being erected means that banning regulations have begun to be implemented. The worshiping ceremony at the beginning of the village is the most important worshiping ceremony, related to the well-being of the whole village. The ceremony to worship the water god is held at the intersection of three streams flowing through the village. According to the same belief, all kinds of animals in the forest are controlled and cared for by A Po Pi Pa - a forest god. The worshiping ceremony is to request the deity to prevent wild animals from harassing the village and destroying crops. At the same time, the worshiping ceremony also prays for the souls of those who died in the forest such as being eaten by wild animals or in accidents to soon escape and not about bothering the living. The ceremony to worship the fire god is to pray that the god does not cause fires in the village and fields so that everyone can do business with peace of mind, the livestock will be full, and the fields will be lush. The ceremony is held next to the village's sacred stone. The people believe that this sacred stone is the soul of the village, protecting the village from being harmed by bad things. Therefore, when holding the ceremony, tie it with white thread on the stone as if holding the stone's soul.

At the worshiping place at the beginning of the village, when carrying out the final rituals to invite ghosts to receive the ceremony, the helper will shout three times to signal to the villagers that the ceremony is over. This is also the time when families in the village send one person to the village's worshiping place to perform the ceremony. Each person will bring a bowl of yellow rice and an egg. The community feast was held in the open field at the beginning of the village, attracting a large number of people, regardless of age or gender, to participate. Each person brought a bottle of wine and a bowl of yellow rice to contribute to the party. The drinking party lasted until late at night when the stories about the village's history told by the elders came to an end.

Greeting ghost animals is a traditional ritual of the Ha Nhi people, with clear characteristics of praying for good harvest and peace, integrated and produced from the cultural flow of the ethnic group over many generations, reflecting the unique features of the Ha Nhi people. the most outstanding in the spiritual life and spiritual culture of the community. The ceremony attracts all participants, through which the quintessence of national culture is instilled in every person and continues to be passed down into the future.